Big Mutha Flute, or WMD?

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Chiffed
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Big Mutha Flute, or WMD?

Post by Chiffed »

Recent forays into extreme PVC construction have led me to make this prototype. It's unfinished, but I couldn't wait. Yes, that's 1" IPS Sched 40 pipe, and a coupler. 3/4" is for weenies!

Image

Image

It's standard pitch, but it's got a big low woof. The second octave is dicey above G, but the intonation is good. You can lip notes around like a quena or a skak, and it's unreal for accompanying other flutes or whistles. Unfortunately, it's also ugly as sin.

Many thanks to Doug Tipple for a place to start, and Dan Bingamon for TWCalc.
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Re: Big Mutha Flute, or WMD?

Post by Doug_Tipple »

Chiffed wrote:Recent forays into extreme PVC construction have led me to make this prototype. It's unfinished, but I couldn't wait. Yes, that's 1" IPS Sched 40 pipe, and a coupler. 3/4" is for weenies!

Image

Image

It's standard pitch, but it's got a big low woof. The second octave is dicey above G, but the intonation is good. You can lip notes around like a quena or a skak, and it's unreal for accompanying other flutes or whistles. Unfortunately, it's also ugly as sin.
I take exception to the idea that flutes in white pvc are ugly as sin. With a little work sanding and polishing the surface of the flute, white pvc can assume the appearance of polished marble. Besides being light weight and very practical, I receive comments all the time about the appearance of pvc flutes. Customers find the appearance of flutes in polished white pvc quite beautiful.
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Jack Bradshaw
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Post by Jack Bradshaw »

Yup !

I thought my Frankenflute of last summer was quite striking...1" PVC in "C" w/ an Alto head....not bad at all on the low end (I'll have to get it out again)

PS: Doug....had any mystery package yet ???
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Post by mutepointe »

dear folks:

could you all please share the specs with us? i accidently bought some 1" pipe and would love to make and play one of these frankenflutes. we made two 3/4" pvc flute at my friend's hardware store and there was a blue plastic piece of junk on the floor that plugged the end in perfect pitch.

mutepointe
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Post by Chiffed »

Doug - My glibness burned me again. I did not mean to imply that all PVC flutes were ugly as sin. I think finely crafted instruments like yours (I recently got a 3-piece grey and I love it) are pretty. Clean, well finished, and nicely proportioned.
This one, on the other hand, is unfinished, the pieces inaccurately cut, and it looks stubby. It's proportions resemble "the priest" we keep on the boat for killing fish.

Specs:
Material: 1" ID sched 40 PVC
Overall length: 21 1/8
Holes, measured from foot:
1) 4 1/8, 5/16"
2) 5 11/16, 7/16"
3) 6 11/16, 3/8"
4) 9 1/16, 3/8"
5) 10 3/16, 7/16"
6) 11 13/16, 7/16"
Emb: 18 1/2, 7/16

-Cut tube oversize
-Drill emb hole 2 3/4" from end
-Install plug and adjust for octaves. My plugs are undersized hardwood dowels with teflon tape.
-Cut, sand, file, swear at foot end until D is in tune
-Mark 6 toneholes with lines across tube
-Hold the flute and see where your fingers fall on the lines, mark
-Drill toneholes, and tweak to your hearts content.

The coupler isn't needed. Version 2.0 has no coupler and the embouchure works fine. I painted that one with Krylon Fusion for Plastics after only sanding to 220grit. If you use it to kill fish, wash and disinfect before playing.
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Post by mutepointe »

thanks for the specs. i'll let you know how things turn out. folks think they're ugly til they hear them.
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Post by Jack Bradshaw »

Image

Specs for "C" Frankenflute (requires head from Alto silver flute)

Specs:
Material: 1" ID sched 40 PVC

Overall length of PVC: 17 1/8"

Holes, measured from foot:
1) 4 11/16", 5/16"
2) 6 3/16", 1/2"
3) 7 9/16", 3/8"
4) 10 1/8", 5/16"
5) 11 11/16", 3/8"
6) 13", 7/16"

-Cut tube oversize
-Install Alto head and adjust for octaves. Head needed two turns of teflon tape.
-Cut, sand, file, swear at foot end until C is in tune
-Mark 6 toneholes with lines across tube
-Hold the flute and see where your fingers fall on the lines, mark
-Drill toneholes, and tweak to your hearts content. (ie: forever)
This one came in a tad flat on C4 and a tad sharp on C5 but all in all good enough!


Enjoy
:party:
603/329-7322
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
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Post by Chiffed »

Wow. That conical headjoint really changes the formula!

I punched in those hole sizes into TWCalc, and it gave me reaches of nearly three inches, and some nasty cutoff freqs. Guess I'll just have to hunt through the junque box in the shop for an alto head.
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Post by Jack Bradshaw »

Ya.........had trouble holding the reach down....the holes are in line.

The bore of the Alto head (from an old PARROT) is smaller as well, so there is a bit of step at the head joint....

Plan on a lot of tonehole fussing !
603/329-7322
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
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Post by Chiffed »

Sorry, Jack. I was just having a bit of fun: the only way I'll find an alto flute in the shop is if it's hiding behind the Alfa Romeo Guilietta Spyder. Or under the Aston. :D
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Post by Eivind »

Wow Jack,
you have any sound samples of that Frankenflute?
What key is it in?

E.
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Post by Jack Bradshaw »

It's in C....I had some files...if not I'll make some.......

:oops:
603/329-7322
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
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Post by Chiffed »

Big Mutha on Clips:

http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssni ... nBryce.mp3

Thanks, Tony!

Appologies for the breathing- I hab a code.
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